Arch support



June 9, 1931. w. M. scHoLL 1,809,731

ARCH SUPPORT Filed May 26, 1924 Patented June 9, 1931 UNITED STATESWILLIAM M. SCHOLL, LOF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS v ARCH SUPPORT Application ledMay 26,

The invention relates to improvements in arch supports.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a support for thearches of the foot so formed that it tends to restore and maintain theplantar surface of the foot to and in its natural form.

. Another object is to provide a foot support which: will produce asubstantially uniform distribution of the weight imposed upon the footover the plantar area thereof, after the parts of the foot have beenrestored to their natural positions.

A further object is to provide an arch support which is light, elastic,comfortable and sufficiently stable to perform the foot com forting andcorrecting functions for which it is designed. It is especially suitableto be worn in the modern, light-weight, fashionable fragile foot weardesigned for women and possesses qualities which render it desirable foruse in childrens shoes.

Other objects, advantages and benefits will i readily appear from aconsideration of the following description when taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein Fig. 1 isa bottom plan view of the device n showing apart of the coveringremoved.

o Fig. 2 is a plan view of an inner spring plate with attached liningsheet.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the yielding or resilient plastic pad forraising the second, third and fourth metatarsal bones of the anterior ormetatarsal arch of the foot.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal central section thru Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a transverse section on line 5-5 thru Fig. 1. w

Fig. 6 is a section taken on line 6 6 of Fig. l.

In all the views the same reference characters are employed to indicatecorresponding parts. l

A device suitable for the purpose intended must be characterized bylightness, strength, elasticity and of suitable configuration to,conform the parts of the foot to their natural 50 respective reposingpositions without exert- 1924. vseran No. 715,839.

ing localized excessive pressure after the restoration has beenaccomplished.

In, the drawin s 10 represents a leather sole or` tap, fanared at 11near its front endand skived in a round area at 12 at the heel end. Thisend is skived to provide a cavity to receive the oscalcis of the foot.This top piece or tap conforms to the plantar surface of the foot andwith the underlying elements provides means for supporting and replacingthe structures known as the inner and outer longitudinal arch and theanterior transverse metatarsal arch. The appliance restores the foot toAits normal three point bearings z-the oscalcis, rst metatorsophalangealjoint, and fifth metatarsophalangeal 'oint. s J The cavity 12 formed byskiving the leather provides a receptacle for the heel of the foot, thussupporting the oscalcis and the tender sensitive tissues attached tothat part of the bone structure. This is brought about by thesurrounding elevation 13 which relieves the aforesaid parts of thepressure which otherwise would be impressed thereupon by transferringthe pressure to the ypart 13 and substantially suspending thesengsitive' parts within the cavity 12.. This furthermore permits theheel portion of the foot to extend more deeply into the shoe and therebyprevents the shoe from pullin oft' yat the heel due to the elevation ofthe oot within the shoe being increased by the thickness of the deviceat this point. The more-or-less rigid, yet yielding supporting elementof the structure, the metal spring blade 14, is substantially straightalong the inner longitudinal edge 15 and curves outwardly at l'from theheel end and extends forwardly into a fan-like part 17 at its forwardend to provide a base of support for the anterior, metatarsal correctionpad 18. The pad 18 of a yielding, resilient nature, may be made of suchmaterial as felt, curled hair, sponge rubber, composition cork, or thelike. It is supported upon the forward, fanshaped end 17 of theunderlying spring plate 14. The pad is of proper outline, as shown, tosupport and to elevate the displaced second, third and fourth metatarsalbones anteriorly.

The device is designed and intended to restore the parts of the foot toits normal three 5 point bearings, the oscalcis, the first meta.-tarsophalangeal joint and the fifth metatarsophalangeal joint and, whenthese parts are in their natural position, the pressure upon the plantarsurface of the foot is substantially evenly distributed upon the suport.p By skiving the edges of the tap or sole 10 at 20 to taper it towardthe edge and at 21 in the same manner, the abruptness of these surfacesis avoided and the supporting function for the transverse arch is morepronounced.

The spring may be suitably and securely fastened to a thin leather sheet22 in any suitable manner and the sheet 22 may then be secured to thetap plate 10 by cement, stitching or the like, and the rivets embeddingin the tap 10 thus avoid presentation of rough disa eeable surfaces tothe foot.

25 T e bottom surface of the device may be covered with soft leather,chamois, felt fabric 23, or the like, by stltching, cement, or otherunobjectionable means.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is v As an article of manufacture, an arch supf portincluding a sole member having on its upper surface at its rear portiona skived recess therein, adapted to be disposed below the oscalcis ofthe foot of the wearer, surrounded by a mar inal area of substantialwidth, a substantia ly oval-shaped yieldable ad adjacent the forward endof said memer having a widened forward portion to underlie the second,third, and fourth metatarso halangeal joints of the foot, a longitudinaly arched spring plate underlying the sole member and supporting thelongitudinal arch of the foot, said late extending forward beneath theyieldable pad and supporting the plantar surface of the foot, and alower covering member disposed below the pad and spring plate andprotecting these members from contact with the shoe sole.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand. c WILLIAM M. SCHOLL.

